Clothes-line prop.



WILLIAM EBRIGGS, BRISTOL, RHQDE ISLAND.

' CLOTHES-LINE PROP.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented March 6, 1.906.

Application filed May 27, 1903. Serial No. 159,028.

T0 all whom, t may concern,.-

Beit known that I, WILLIAM F. BRIGGs, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Bristol, in the county of Bristol and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new `and useful Improvement in Clothes-Line Props, of which the following is a speciiication.

Myinvention consists in the improved construction of the engaging jaw at the head of the prop and in the improved construction of the spur at the lower end, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a perspective view of the clothesline prop in engagement with the line. Fig. 2 represents an enlarged side view of the upper end of the prop with the engaging jaw closed upon the line. Fig. 3 represents a view of the opposite side of the end of the prop with the engaging jaw at its backward position. Fig. 4 represents a back edge view of the end of the prop with the engaging jaw in its. backward position. Fig. 5 represents a section taken in the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, showing theengaging jaw at its backward position. Fig. 6 represents a section taken in the line 6 6 of Fig. 4, showing thel engaging jaw in its closed position. Fig. 7 represents a transverse section taken in the line 7 7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 represents a section as in Fig.` 6 with the actuating-rod in the lower position for closing the jaw to its eXtreme limit. Fig. 9 represents a back view of the engaging jaw removed from the prop. Fig. 10 represents an enlarged edge view of the pieces i, carrying the engaging spurs for the lower end of the prop. Fig. l1 represents a top view of the same.

In the drawings, A represents the wooden portion of the prop, and B the movable jaw which serves to engage with the clothes-line C to hold the top of the prop in a rm position upon the said line, the said jaw being formed ofthe cast portion a, preferably of zinc or some other non-oXidable metal, and the sheet-metal portion b, formed of zinc or other suitable material and provided at its lower end with the open hook c and at its side with the inwardly-turned flange d, adapted for the engagement therewith of the arm f of the operating-rod D, which rod is vpivoted to the side oi the wooden portion A of the prop by means of the longitudinal groove n, the holding-strap E, and the staple o and provided with the turned end e, by means of which it is operated by hand to open or close the jaw B. The jaw B is pivoteduponvthe transverse pin k, which is engaged by the hook c of the jaw. The operating-rod D is adapted for limited silding movement along the wooden portion A, whereby the end of the arm f may be caused to engage either with the sheetmetal portion b of the jaw, as shown in Fig. 8, thus completely closing the said j aw to accommodate a line C of small diameter, or to enter the recess g, as shown in Fig. 6, thus providing for a line C of larger diameter, the said jaw being drawn back from its closed position by the engagement of the arm f with the inwardly-extending flange d of the jaw, as shown in Fig. 4. The holding-strap E, to which the jaw B is pivoted, is secured to the wooden portion A of the prop by means of the clenched nails h h. Thel lower end of the prop is provided with separate pieces t, riveted together at the point jand riveted to the prop at the point m, the said pieces i 'i being each provided with the two spurs c 7c', the spurs of one piece being arranged side by side with the spurs of the other piece, and by means of the two spurs arranged as shown the prop may be firmly held with either edge uppermost, as desired, the inner side of the deep .penetration of the other. The pieces i i, which form the spurs, are provided with the inwardly-directed iianges p p, which embrace the opposite edges of the wooden member and serve to prevent the pieces i, carrying the spurs, from becoming loose at the point of attachment.

I claim as my inventionl. In a clothes-line prop the'combination of the wooden member, and the pivoted jaw provided with the inwardly-extending iiange, withthe operating-rod provided with an engaging arm, and adapted for turning movement to engagement with the back ofthe jaw to close the same upon the line, and' with the flange, to open the jaw and release the line, substantially as described.l

2. In a clothes-line prop the combination of the wooden member, and the pivoted jaw provided with the recess, with the operatingrod provided with an engagin arm and adapted for both turning and en wise movement, whereby the engaging arm may be either caused to engage with the back of the jaw, or with the bottom of the recess, substantially as described.

3. In a clothes-line prop the combination of the wooden member, and the pivoted jaw uppermost spur serving to prevent the too IOO IIO

provided with the recess and the inwardly-- extending ange, With the operatin -rod provided with the engaging erm, an adapted for both turning and endwise movement, and for engagement with the bottom of the recess to close the jaw, and with the iange, to open the jaw, substantially as described.

4. In a clothes-line prop .the combination of the Wooden member, and the pivoted jaw provided With the inwerdly-v turned ian e, and with the pivot-engaging hook, with 51e pivot-carrying strap, secured to the Wooden member, the operating-rod provided With the engaging arm adapted for engagement With the back of the jaw, and with the inwardly 15 extending ange, and the s urs et the bottom of the prop, substantieJ 1y as described.

WILLIAM F. BRIGGS.

Witnesses SOCRATES SCHOLFIELD, ANDREW J. PITCHER. 

